😐A single person spends $2,540 per month in Dordrecht vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,621 per month in Dordrecht vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,701 per month in Dordrecht vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dordrecht costs about 193% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dordrecht sits 90% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28€14.88
$1.94฿63.5
790.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.3€81.2
$18.64฿609
405.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.95€11.15
$7.82฿255
65.60%
Cappuccino
$3.86€3.32
$1.95฿63.8
97.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$0.85฿27.77
298.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.68
$0.35฿11.58
791.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.73€5.80
$2.13฿69.6
215.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.02
$3.73฿122
56.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.71฿56.0
-25.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26€1.94
$1.63฿53.2
38.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15€2.71
$1.14฿37.15
176.32%
Eggs
$4.60€3.96
$1.93฿63.1
138.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.24€12.26
$16.21฿530
-12.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.33€13.20
$3.12฿102
391.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.79€14.45
$10.90฿356
54.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.04
$2.75฿90.0
-13.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.21฿39.52
103.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$1.62฿53.0
25.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.67€4.02
$1.59฿51.8
193.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$1.40฿45.70
45.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$1.17฿38.17
79.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.07
$0.66฿21.60
89.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.53฿17.22
60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.69€11.79
$4.69฿153
191.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48€6.44
$18.66฿609
-59.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.80฿58.8
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.25
$3.23฿106
-19.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66€4.01
$0.90฿29.26
417.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.0€80.1
$19.21฿628
384.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.79€3.26
$1.41฿45.91
168.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06€1.77
$1.29฿42.12
59.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.72€23.86
$7.84฿256
253.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€1.98
$1.27฿41.58
81.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€30.6K
$21.3K฿694.9K
66.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K€28.6K
$22.2K฿725.4K
49.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238€205
$69.1฿2,256
244.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.98€24.95
$14.08฿460
105.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3€46.73
$18.00฿588
201.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.59€34.94
$41.06฿1,341
-1.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81€21.36
$6.96฿227
256.47%
Cinema Ticket
$16.29€14.02
$5.92฿193
175.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,192€1,887
$299฿9,766
633.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,859€5,905
$15.0K฿488.3K
-54.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$54.7฿1,787
60.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.59€29.78
$26.77฿874
29.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€81.7
$85.0฿2,776
11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€132
$70.6฿2,306
116.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607€1,383
$428฿14.0K
275.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225€1,054
$237฿7,752
415.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,284€1,966
$801฿26.2K
184.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,705€1,468
$515฿16.8K
230.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,355€3,749
$1,975฿64.5K
120.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,020€3,460
$1,475฿48.2K
172.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dordrecht
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,433€4,678
$617฿20.2K
779.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
5
-14.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dordrecht: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Dordrecht versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 780% higher in Dordrecht, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Dordrecht versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dordrecht vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
Dordrecht costs about 193% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dordrecht vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,810 per month in Dordrecht and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Dordrecht and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,192 per month in Dordrecht and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Dordrecht, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Dordrecht at $2,540. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dordrecht it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,540 in Dordrecht. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dordrecht compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dordrecht or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dordrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.